President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law allowing for Hawaiian statehood, which would become official on August 21

Mar 24

The Party of the African Federation is launched by Léopold Sédar Senghor and Modibo Keïta

Mar 28

The State Council of the People's Republic of China dissolves the Government of Tibet

Mar 31

The 14th Dalai Lama, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum

Apr 1

Iakovos is enthroned as Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America

Apr 8

A team of computer manufacturers, users, and university people led by Grace Hopper meets to discuss the creation of a new programming language that would be called COBOL

Apr 8

The Organization of American States drafts an agreement to create the Inter-American Development Bank

Apr 9

Project Mercury: NASA announces the selection of the United States' first seven astronauts, whom the news media quickly dub the "Mercury Seven"

Apr 10

Akihito, future Emperor of Japan, marries Michiko

Apr 25

The St. Lawrence Seaway, linking the North American Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, officially opens to shipping

May 4

The 1st Grammy Awards are held

May 18

Launch of the National Liberation Committee of Côte d'Ivoire in Conakry, Guinea

May 19

The North Vietnamese Army establishes Group 559, whose responsibility is to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam; the resulting route is the Ho Chi Minh trail

May 30

The Auckland Harbour Bridge, crossing the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand, is officially opened by Governor-General Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham

Jun 3

Singapore was declared a self-governing state even though it was still a part of the British Empire

Jun 5

The first government of the State of Singapore is sworn in

Jun 8

The USS Barbero and United States Postal Service attempt the delivery of mail via Missile Mail

Jun 9

The USS George Washington is launched. It is the first submarine to carry ballistic missiles

Jun 14

A group of Dominican exiles depart from Cuba and land in the Dominican Republic with the intent of overthrowing the totalitarian government of Rafael Trujillo. All but four are killed or executed

Jun 14

Disneyland Monorail System, the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere, opens to the public in Anaheim, California

Jun 20

A rare June hurricane strikes Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence killing 35

Jun 23

A fire in a resort hotel in Stalheim (Norway) kills 34 people

Jun 23

Convicted Manhattan Project spy Klaus Fuchs is released after only nine years in prison and allowed to emigrate to Dresden, East Germany where he resumes a scientific career

Jun 26

The Saint Lawrence Seaway opens, opening North America's Great Lakes to ocean-going ships

Jul 1

Specific values for the international yard, avoirdupois pound and derived units (e.g. inch, mile and ounce) are adopted after agreement between the U.S.A., the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries